Vancouver Fountains - Fountain Descriptions

Alvar Turqoise (19 photos) Google Maps link
The Alvar building on 1005 beach avenue has this bright turqoise blue pool wrapping around its Beach Avenue entrance. The pool's tiles are swimming pool blue. Of course, it isn't a swimming pool, well maybe little kids could splash around in it. The water is shallow which gives the pool a bright and sparkling appearance. On one side of the building there is a water wall with water cascading down from a small pool one story up. This pool looks very California.

Anchor Bridge (17 photos) Google Maps link
This is a dark shallow rough stone pool crossed by a wooden footbridge. A ship anchor rests beside one of the fountains. This part of Granville Island is directly under the Granville Street Bridge which soars far above. It is dark here under the bridge, in the summer cool, and the winter cold and clammy.

Aquarius Mews (19 photos) Google Maps link
An unremarkable fountain, it is a centre piece to a garden and walkways situated between two condo towers, both called Aquarius Mews. This space between the towers, provides a clear view of False Creek from Pacific Blvd, and is a public access to the waterfront pedestrian and cycling path along False Creek. This falls is quite loud and bright once you get in close to it. It has a nice small stone bottom which catches the light from the two submerged lamps.

Athenian Delight (21 photos) Google Maps link
With white Greek colonnades and black marble tiles, this very large, multi-faceted water complex nevertheless remains very cogent. A shallow main pool, sitting below the street, is tiled with chunky, irregular, black, flat stone tiles. Water from a higher level cascades down a wonderful falls into this main pool. The higher level consists of a series of descending platforms of black stone files which resembles a natural stream but with regular L-shaped turns. Each level has a large rock which is lit from below the water's surface. A Leonardo da Vinci quote solidifies this water art's classical theme: "In Rivers, the water you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes so with time present."

Bayshore Drive (12 photos) Google Maps link
These towers which are a block away from Coal Harbour have a huge rectangular pool on one side that cascades down into a descending series of large pie shaped pools. The building entrance seems to float above the water reminiscent of a drawbridge crossing a castle's moat. Closer to W. Georgia Street there are two separate pools with some interesting fountains and night time lighting, which are not included in these photographs but will be sometime soon.

BC Hydro Creek (18 photos) Google Maps link
This stone channel waterway is tucked away in a lush coniferous mini-forest with small burbling fountains that are lit up beautifully at night. It is difficult to see from the street, but if you do go to see it, I encourage you to walk right up to it under the trees. In the daytime it is shaded and you feel as if you have stepped into a forest alongside a creek. The creek starts at a fountain pool which falls into and along the main channel into a widened area under the trees before cascading down more two levels of stone falls and under the walkway and into the pool (the pool is shown in BC Hydro Head Office photo set).

BC Hydro Head Office (22 photos) Google Maps link
Of course BC Hydro would have many fountains, pools and water art decorating their head offices plaza. It is not called 'hydro' for nothing eh. The large bright blue sculpture includes an intermittent gush of water that splashes into the pool below. The inset park like area contains another large pool surrounded by broad walking paths and lots of seating areas. There are a couple of stone waterways tucked away in a lush coniferous mini-forest with small burbling fountains that are lit up beautifully at night. Note the orca sculpture which was created and auctioned for a local charity event in 2005.

Beatty Biofilter (27 photos) Google Maps link
This water channel is a mini wetland which is similar in construction and design to the UBC Ladder Marsh. It is designed to collect building rainwater and filter it naturally. The pictures here are winter time shots so you don't see the 7 foot tall rushes only their stumps from last season.

Bentall Bistro Falls (16 photos) Google Maps link
This magnificent five level cascade is a descending lush series of falls and pools which spirals around the restaurant tucked away deep in the plaza. At night the water's dark blue green glow and muted roar make this beauty seem mysterious and wild. Check it out!

Big Flush (16 photos) Google Maps link
Called this baby 'Big Flush' because these two water works cascade from the top of and down around a public washroom. This water works sits in David Lam Park and is a lookout from which you can see the soccer pitch and False Creek and Fairview Slopes across the other side of False Creek. There are two identical sets of square pools which spill into a very interesting curved trough like structure then down over one side along the walls, splashing down another trough into a collector before being pumped back up top. The curved troughs and water flow into them is arranged so that the water spills evenly out of it on all sides so that the water surface bulges up so if viewed from the side you can see the water 2 or 3 cm above the trough lip. When the water spills over the one side of the trough it does something similar but the trough into which it spills is deeper and the water falls about 2 or 3 meters thus making a thunderous roar and splashes onto the stairs. Calm on top but tumultuous down below. I wonder if the toilet had any impact on this fountains design?

Big Leaf (23 photos) Google Maps link
Lurking in a huge pie shaped courtyard bordered by Expo Blvd and Cambie Street, this enormous, shallow, leaf shaped pond includes a central stalk from which branch ribs, upon which you can walk if you trust your balance. At night, the underwater lights highlight the leaf's outline and reflect off the pond's sculptured bottom to create a dramatic effect, which increases the closer you get. From a distance one might not even notice this playfully beautiful water art unless looking directly at it. On one edge of the pool are inscribed poetic suggestions from the artist.

Broadway Tech Centre (38 photos) Google Maps link
This enormous commercial facility has a fitting huge water works at its south entrance. Modern concrete ledges and chutes. Clean finishes. Not sure if the artfully placed river stones are official or contributed by community artists but they really add panache. The night time lighting is outstanding.

Brush with Illumination (9 photos) Google Maps link
This statue sits out a ways from the boardwalk in False Creek and is officially named 'Brush with Illumination'. It could really have been called anything from God's Fishhook to New Fangled Rocket. Its a beauty eh.

Buchanan Bandstand (36 photos) Google Maps link
This classic patio pool features a raised concrete gazebo, benches, wheeled ramp, and stone slab walk over. Nice lights at night. Cool white in the day. It drains out one end to hug a narrow walk over channel that empties into a natural stone lined marshy pool.

Burnaby Lake (21 photos) Google Maps link
Bird watching, rowing and weddings on the waterside stands and pier. That is what happens here. Its shallow, swampy at the edges but quite large. Its natural but sufficiently sculpted and used by people that it belongs in the water art category.

Burrard Confabulator (10 photos) Google Maps link
This crazy other-worldly metal confabulation is truly modern art. It looks like a weird rocket ship ready to launch but just sits and spills water from one basin into a lower one before splashing into the rectangular pool in which it stands. The pool in which it stands is in a large white stone plaza along Burrard Street with a pleasant, grassy bank nestled in one corner. The fountain's polished surface shows best in the photos taken with a flash.

Burrard Station lil Pond (3 photos) Google Maps link
This classic circular standing pond with its central spray and Orca statue is located down inside the covered area of the Burrard Skytrain Station ticket purchase area. Surrounded by a semi-circle stone bench, it provides the perfect peaceful place to contemplate the hustle and bustle of commuters.

Burrard Station Waterwall (13 photos) Google Maps link
This water wall is a nearly 100 feet in length, containing similar, but discontinuous sections separated with creeping foliage. The lights highlight the flowing water in the dark. As you approach the burbling sound of the water cascading down the walls steps gets louder and in the summer, on a hot day, you can feel the coolness.

Canada Place (8 photos) Google Maps link
This is not technically a fountain but given its location and architecture it certainly does quality as a type of water art! Canada Place juts out over Burrard Inlet with its soaring clipper sails it looks ready to fly. The sails are blank slates to be coloured with lights. Superb.

Canada Place Flag Pond (24 photos) Google Maps link
I had probably passed by this fountain and pool many times before I realized it was a base for series of flag poles each topped with, what else, but flags for each Canadian province - this is Canada Place after all. The foliage in the planters around the pool are wonderful prairie type tufted grasses. In this series of photos you approach the flag pool from a distance until you standing at the pool's side, looking up at the flags.

Canadian Tire Water Bridge (5 photos) Google Maps link
This was a very interesting, if weird little 'water bridge fountain' seen in the street side window of the Cambie Street Canadian Tire. Water flowed down the bridge's 'roadway' into a small pool fountain. Pure kitsch. Didn't get a look at the price tag, but wouldn't be surprised if this baby cost more than $1000.

Canadian Tire Water Fountain (14 photos) Google Maps link
This happening little fountain sits in front of Canadian Tire's Burrard Street Location. It's bold angular multi-level design is somehow incomplete, at the very least spartan. It incorporates plantings which gives it some softer bits and even has a drinking water fountain built in! I wonder if the drinking water drains into the pond, you know, to recycle the water?

Carina Salmon Stream (22 photos) Google Maps link
This magnificent artificial mountain stream is barely visible from either the coal harbour public walking area or from the street on the other side. Lit up at night time, this stream sparkles. As a former salmon habitat biologist, I can attest to its realism. This work of art is a tribute to BC salmon streams. Bravo! The people who made this building really appreciated good water art because in addition to the salmon stream the building's foyer also has a great jet black water wall which is also on this site.

Carina Water Wall (6 photos) Google Maps link
This architectural gem is in the foyer of the building which has the Carina Salmon Stream in its courtyard. They really like flowing water at this building. The very large water wall is made of smooth, jet black, stepped tiles which the water sheets over creating a rippling effect which catches the light to sparkle and shine. I didn't get to go inside so I couldn't tell what it sounded like but I expect it would be a murmur if there was any sound at all, given the apparently low flow of water. This is a very well done piece of water art, and combined with the salmon stream outside, must be greatly appreciated by the buildings' tenants, and if not, they are boors or have forgotten the first time they saw these water wonders.

Cathedral Square Drug Bust (9 photos) Google Maps link
Vancouver's finest cracking down on what must be one of Hondura's biggest sources of foreign remittances - the many young Hondurans who keep downtown drug clientele in stock.

Cathedral Square Fainting Spell (16 photos) Google Maps link
Cathedral Square attracts all types of people, depending on the time of day, and whether the police are getting tough on drug dealers. In this series of photos, a few kids, on their way home from the bar or a party, sat down in the park only for a few minutes before one of them passed out, and they called 911, which brought nearly 14 emergency response, firemen and police. Given smelling salts, kid leapt back to life and was sent on his way.

Cathedral Square Rave (57 photos) Google Maps link
This series of photos was taken from a building across Richards Street from Cathedral Square on a time delay and auto-shutter. A kind of open air free rave was put on in the park. The lights and fog machine combined with the large pool and fountains to create a magical if short lived ambiance.

Cathedral Square Traffic (4 photos) Google Maps link
These photographs show Cathedral Square and its large pool at night time with the non-stop traffic flowing past. Across the street the cathedral can be seen.

CBC Falls (18 photos) Google Maps link
This large ambitious water works is plastered against one side of a deep park between the old CBC building and a new condo tower.

Chihuly Flower Pool (11 photos) Google Maps link
This series of stepped pools, bordered by open concrete walkways, descends alongside the residential building on Bute street between W Georgia and Alberni. With its open accessibility, tastefully lit small fountains, and pleasing proportions, make it remarkable enough. What makes this water installation truly unique is the enormous glass case standing in the lowest pool which contains the Dale Chihuly Persian Wall glass installation which is large, bright, colourful ceramic or glass sculptures of flowers. Superior! By the way, if you are in Seattle, make sure to check out the Chihuly collection!

Coal Harbour Waterboy 1 (11 photos) Google Maps link
Coal Harbour, if I might pontificate, is an example for those struggling mightily to redevelop Toronto's discordant, inaccessible waterfront. Coal Harbour sprung up almost overnight, leaving the entire waterfront completely accessible and useful to the public while the development was almost entirely private. The water boy pictured here, poised atop a wet sculptured wall is a prime example of the variety of public art that accompanied the development. The water boy is actually standing at the lip of a huge pool in the interior, private courtyard of the buildings but the developers were kind enough to entertain all of us. Whimsy, with a story behind it? I don't know.

Coal Harbour Waterboy 2 (9 photos) Google Maps link
This is the West Hastings Street side of the building which has the Coal Harbour Waterboy on waterfront side. The interior courtyard of this building contains a large pool from which water spills out of the waterboy sculpture side and as these pictures show, out on the West Hastings side, creating a magnificent falls which lights up dramatically at night.

Creekside Aztec (24 photos) Google Maps link
This fountain looks like an Aztec pyramid in both shape, four sided steps, and chunky stone building material. Water fountains on the flat top of the pyramid splash down the four sets of steps into a circular surrounding pool. It is a very original, themed design.

Fairmont Pacific Rim Luxury Auto Mall (16 photos) Google Maps link
This is is not an auto mall but one might think it is a showroom for high end vehicles because there are always super expensive cars parked at its entrance. Not sure if cars belong to guests or the Fairmont is just preferred place to park expensive vehicles. In any case, the entrance is wrapped in a shallow pond in fact you must cross over small foot bridges to get over the pond into the hotel. The pond has platforms upon which select luxury cars are parked which makes it look a bit like, well, a luxury auto mall.

False Creek Duck Pond (17 photos) Google Maps link
This big pond on west side of False Creek in Charleston Park. It can be seen from the False Creek walk way. Has some nice big boulders placed in the middle and lots of trees and foliage around the perimeter which give it very natural look. Often has ducks and swans and gulls.

False Creek Sun Dial (13 photos) Google Maps link
There might be a hidden astronomical grand plan in this fountain and its surrounding square. The actual water part of this scheme looks like a brick BBQ or bread oven. But the water pours out of it from a little spout into the square. The lines around the square converge on the bread oven. Maybe it really is a huge sun dial.

Flame of Peace (13 photos) Google Maps link
The Flame of Peace, which sits surprisingly forlornly in Seaforth Park at the junction of Burrard Street and Cornwall on the south side of the Burrard Street bridge, is a symbol of Vancouver's commitment to World Peace. This fountain is very intellectual. No splashy, loud or colourful gushings here. Just a cerebral setting and a flame that burns eternally. Consisting of a square stone pool with a stone pyramidal shaped island rising from the centre, the fountain's pyramid is capped with bronze sheeting, and topped with a large boulder on which sits a granite tableau, and on top of that is a stone bowl in which gutters the Flame of Peace (trumpet sound please!). Water issues forth from the flame's bowl, water never extinguishing flame, trickling down onto the granite tableau and wetting the boulder before spilling onto the bronze sheeting and into the pool. It begs for benchs so people can sit and reflect. Please make this a destination, not a shortcut!

Font de Don Francesco (6 photos) Google Maps link
This little, stepped fountain is clad in red tile to match the courtyard in which it sits, at the back hidden from the view of passersby. The fountain is unexceptional, except for the fact it is there! This plucky fountain takes its name from the equally odd restaurant next to it in which usually seem to sit men in jackets drinking what appears to be expensive wine. Vive el Don Francesco!

Fountain Blu (8 photos) Google Maps link
Ok Chachi there are waay too many signs that say "Hotel Blu" on this fountain. Its a nice fountain, why cover it up with signs? There is a certain elegance and style that comes with understatement and the opposite when it is lacking. Just saying.

French Embassy Pool (4 photos) Google Maps link
This very plain, bordering on ugly pool with fountains sits in front of a building which houses the Consulate of France. Two flagpoles, one for Canada and the other for France, stand in the pool. Note that in these photos, taken late on a Sunday evening, the flags still hang, forlorn and forgotten, without respect. A flag must be protected and brought in and raised with ceremony each morning and in the eve! France do what you might with your own flag, but treat Canada's properly.

Georgia Hotel Reflections Patio (15 photos) Google Maps link
Unseen from the street, and tucked away in the centre of the hotel's well, at the 2nd floor level is a patio which will soon be an outdoor lounge open to the public called Reflections. The patio floor is framed by narrow water channels with a stepping stone like walk-over into the central area. On one side of the patio, the channel widens into a large rectangular pool that overflows on one side into a drainage. It is a peaceful, surprisingly quiet area, sequestered from the hustle and bustle of the busy Georgia & Thurlow intersection. Guests in rooms on the hotel's inside rooms have pleasant views out onto this patio area, which are infinitely better than looking out onto a bland gravel rooftop studded with ventilation vents.

Georgia Hotel Swimming Pool (16 photos) Google Maps link
The newly updated Georgia Hotel has a neat-o swimming pool. It is located directly above the valet car park hotel entrance. When you are handing the keys to the valet, if you look up you will see geometrical portals in the ceiling through which you can see the swimming pool from the bottom. These portals are ringed with lights that change colour which can be seen both in the pool and the car park. The swimming pool is very elegant, harkening back to the 1920's art deco days.

Georgia Street Lake (16 photos) Google Maps link
This is a monster pool. They don't come much bigger than this. If allowed to freeze, it is big enough to play a regulation game of hockey. The water spills over the north lip of the pool, down the angled tile wall on the north side facing West Georgia Street. The water then flows in a shallow gutter at sidewalk level into drains where presumably it is pumped back up into the pool above.

Girl In Wetsuit (8 photos) Google Maps link
This is Elek Imredy's sea nymph that some said was a copy of the Mermaid in Copenhagen. But this aquatina has legs, and sports swimming goggles and flippers so she is definitely different.

Glass Ball (15 photos) Google Maps link
I called it the 'Glass Ball' because the artist's last name was Glass and it looks like a ball. Original eh? (Hey, I toyed with other names like egg-beater, time machine, whirly-gig) You can read the bronze plaque yourself, but the fountain is a gift of BC's German speakers. So, danke, its wundervoll! This is another fountain I must see frequently as I live and work downtown and regularly pass by this way but just today did it register that I had yet to take a picture of it. It is a big fountain. Large circular pond. Sitting in the large concrete plaza which takes in the entire quarter of the lot. At half-time, or intermission as they say in theatre, the patrons will spill out onto the fenced in plaza area and perhaps gaze upon the Glass Ball. The metal sculpture serves also as fountain. The water splashes down into the pool vigorously, with water spraying outside of the pool.

Granville Island Duck Pond (22 photos) Google Maps link
This large natural pond is usually all a-flotilla with ducks. Oh, and turtles too, in the summer sunning themselves on rocks. Access to the pond is easy with the lawn right to the edge of the water, and the small jetty jutting into the pond. Little children throw bread crumbs or Starbucks biscuits at the ducks. Its a nice pond. It has ducks, and turtles.

Granville Stargate (21 photos) Google Maps link
Legend has it that if you walk through this fountain's portal you will end up on the TV show Stargate or in another universe. I don't believe it. I think you will just get wet. Whatever you believe, you have to believe that this fountain is awesome. Those wonderful blades of water slicing the air are magical.

Green Alter (14 photos) Google Maps link
The Harbourfront Place towers are distinctive for their black exterior and bright green ring of lights around their tops. The building's plaza is fronted with a raised black colonnade arch type structure with a green ring of lights echoing the towers' lights. raised central blocky fluted alter like structure which contains a mini pool in its center that spills over edges into the large main 4-leaf clover shaped pool. The light reflecting off the curved sides of the central alter at night creates a most impressive spectacle.

Guiness Gurgle (8 photos) Google Maps link
Yes, Guiness, as in 'Guiness' the beer. They were here in Vancouver too. They actually built the Lions Gate Bridge for access to property developments they were involved in on the North Shore. So, here's to Guiness. For Strength! Given all of this illustrious activity, this fountain beside the Guiness Tower somehow doesn't quite seem worthy. Ok, I am sure the tower itself was a marvel in its time. But take a look at this little piddler and tell me that at a minimum it should be Homer's dream (Simpson not The Odyssey) and flowing with thick dark Guiness ... mmmm, beeeer.

Harbour Green Water Park (16 photos) Google Maps link
When I was a kid, we had sprinklers to jump through. Now there are water parks everywhere. This one is bit unusual in that it is simply a large concrete area with fountains spinkling water from the perimeter. It seems to be a kind of amphitheatre with tiered concrete benches surrounding it, but the performers and audience would be soaked. Makes a nice visual for the patrons of the Mill though.

Harman's Transcendence (22 photos) Google Maps link
Masked, tall, whisper thin with limbs tapering off into the air, these four creatures ache for the open sky and heavens beyond. Alas they are made of metal and are firmly anchored to the blindingly white pool filled with Caribbean azure waters. If you gotta spend eternity somewhere this ain't so bad guys.

Hermit's Bath (12 photos) Google Maps link
Yeah so this is a weird little pond hidden in a copse of trees on the UBC campus near the main library. It has a kind of headwaters with a mini-stream that passes beneath forest paths in plastic tubes. Totally unexpected. Years ago there was someone found camping in these trees. Did that person steal midnight baths in this private hidden lake? Did we sometimes see suds lingering in the morning as we passed by? Hmm.

HKU-UBC House Rock Pond (14 photos) Google Maps link
Walking on the floating rock slabs gives instant sense of risk, a giddy potential to mis-step and tumble into the drink. Almost a carnival ride or adventure sport. Do your best Calvin and imagine stepping across ice flows to evade the polar bear.

Ki Japan Water Garden (10 photos) Google Maps link
This cool pond is nestled at the base of the Shangra-la tower one level above the street where the Ki Japanese restaurant resides. Unless you are going to Ki you may not ever see this bastion of peaceful water.

Kings Landing (2 photos) Google Maps link
This is one of the newest developments on False Creek, the old Expo Lands, sold for a song to offshore interests, who are by now longtime onshore interests, and who have developed thoughtful, even gracious, unending access to the waterfront, minimal sight line disruption with well spaced, light coloured and glass towers and interesting and useful public spaces. As I walked past this cluster of towers and townhouses I heard the sound of flowing water. Walking into the automobile roundabout, I saw a small basin with water that appeared to spill out into the courtyard below where glimpsed falls, a small creek, more ponds? But I could barely snap these two pictures before a polite voice asked 'Can I help you?' Turns out security is tight at Kings Landing, which the residents will be pleased to hear about, not even my official Vancouver Fountains badge got me in. So, if the strata board is interested, please invite me to take some pictures!

Kryptonite Hot Tub (30 photos) Google Maps link
Zowie! Wow! What the .. ! This water art is original. Imagine the sound of a hot tub, you know the bubbly sound with the kind of hum from the water pumps nearby. Well, that is sound that emanates from this pond! Water jets ringing the pool's side create exactly the same kind of bubbles and roiling water as in a hot tub. If that wasn't outlandish enough, the metal frames holding various coloured rocks that are glass like and are light up with the appearance of well ... um, kryptonite! Further accentuating this fountain is a ring of bright halogen lights embedded in the ground around the oval shaped pool. The first pictures were taken when the kryponite rocks were not lit up. But wham, the rest show them glowing red, green, blue and purple with the water roiling like a hot tub. Space age fountains in Coal Harbour - what will they think of next!

L'aria Prive (7 photos) Google Maps link
This little splasher is another private fountain locked away behind closed doors as part of the entrance foyer to the building, but it is visible from the street though why anyone but me would look, never mind take pictures, is uncertain. But here they are, pictures of L'aria's fountain prive. The fountains splashes into a small top concrete pond, the water falling down into a lower pool, then flowing through a notch into another lower pool. Very compact and modern in its simplicity.

Leaf Catcher (6 photos) Google Maps link
This sucker needs a grate to prevent leaves from clogging up its drainage.

Leon and Thea's Garden Party (45 photos) Google Maps link
Formal garden parties are hosted here in the dining rooms wrapping around these waters. Nice three level dropping pools. Hidden infinity pool on top. Stone water bridges. Dark overhung bays. A startling white sculpture evokes dropped map pin marking this spot. Yes you are here.

Lido (8 photos) Google Maps link
This is one of the new residential buildings at the south end of False Creek near Olympic Village. This is a great classical set of ponds and fountains with excellent lighting.

Lumberjack (11 photos) Google Maps link
This huge pond underneath the unique building has huge concrete pillars holding up the building above and a few of them have been stippled so they look like Douglas Fir trees. The pond has awesome wooden walkways crisscrossing it.

Luxury Falls (3 photos) Google Maps link
This water cascade is in the same building complex as the Athenian Delight though on the Alberni St side. The lighting has been positioned so that the reflections off the water illuminate its immediate surroundings very nicely, and it is nestled in a lush and dense planting of shrubs and trees and appears quite luxurious.

Main Library Roman Tiles (6 photos) Google Maps link
This small gem, located on the Robson and Homer corner of the building, can be easily missed if you walk by it quickly. You don't really see it from the inside of the library either, unless you are in the basement kids area. Water flows out from under the top edge perimeter, spilling successively down into small honeycombed hollow bricks which make up the wall. The bottom of the pool is a faux archaeological painted tile tableau which sits under about 2 inches of water like a submerged city of antiquity.

Marina Square Water Walk (4 photos) Google Maps link
This is the best water art, pool, pond or fountain in all of Coal Harbour. It consists of a central piece with water gushing from the four points of the compass, the water running down two channels upon which you can walk on stepping stones or concrete pads that float above the water.

Melville Grotto (5 photos) Google Maps link
The Melville Grotto takes up a large part of the plaza at Melville and Thurlow. This large water work has angular tiers of rough concrete ledges which descend to the pool's edge well below the street level. At one end, water flows beneath a foot bridge from the top level, and then down many of the steps into the pool below. In the daytime one can walk down the tiers and steps and find respite from street noises by sitting at the edge of the pool below the street level.

Melville Swimming Pool (16 photos) Google Maps link
Brightly lit at night, the blue pool tiles give the clear water the appearance of a swimming pool. The three levels of pools are filled to the top of their retaining walls and the water spills over them into the next. Standing at eye level with the surface of the water, the top 1 cm of water spilling over the edge takes on a glassy greenish hue appearing like the edge of thick glass. The lowest pool, along Thurlow, has drains over which the water forms small whirlpools which are pleasing to contemplate.

Metrotower 3 (33 photos) Google Maps link
This elaborate water complex wraps around the Metrotower 3 office building. Laddered falls hems in building, grated walkway over watercourse leads into building entrance, the falls continue down to street level joining a rocky pool. 20 feet above the pool is another pool that sends water crashing down a concrete wall into the pool at street level.

Metrotown Dolphins (8 photos) Google Maps link
Two dolphins. A pair of porpoises. Un duo de delphines. A couple of cetaceans. In a cloverleaf shaped pool.

Modpools (13 photos) Google Maps link
Modpools groovy shipping container pools are made in the Vancouver area and so righteously qualify as a Vancouver Fountains feature. Eight feet wide by 20 feet long, and just over five feet deep. Swimming pool on one side, drop in the divider and you got a hot tub on the other side. Seriously modular. Totally portable. How to ship this baby? Oh yeah. Just put it on a semi-bed or container ship to get it down the street or around the world! Check 'em out online at modpools.com

Octo Level Falls (27 photos) Google Maps link
Sadly this beauty is no longer flowing. But it was 8 levels of falls! I'd walked past this beauty a million times before discovering there were 8 drops over three stories! You had to walk up the set of stairs off Robson which are the access for the Japanese restaurant to see the bulk of the falls. Once you got up there you see a very cool curving river which winds through an enclosing canopy of shrubs and trees before plunging down into the next level. The falls started on the top of the Japanese restaurant. Was an amazing hidden gem of water art! Sadly the last 2 photos show how it looks today .. the falls are gone .. sad face :(

Olympic Cauldron (21 photos) Google Maps link
Vancouver's Olympic Cauldron is a 10-metre tall, five-headed glass and steel cauldron sitting in a shallow pool. The caludron was fired up by hockey legend Wayne Gretzky during the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The flame is only lit for special occasions because it costs $6,400 to light the Cauldron for a period of at least four hours! Luckily it looks awesome even without the flames.

Olympic Village Duck Pond (25 photos) Google Maps link
This is a huge water system with marshes, lagoons, islands and network of paths and park amenities including some very cool large pipe sections.

Olympic Village Spouter (10 photos) Google Maps link
These are series of oval ponds lining the walkways between the residential buildings. They have tiny water spouts that almost seem like after thoughts. If these ponds were people they might feel inadequate for the little spouts. But the residents probably like the fact that they don't make a lot of noise?

Ontario Street Weeping Wall (8 photos) Google Maps link
This unobtrusive water installation could easily be missed. It is tucked right up along the building spilling water down a concrete face from its stainless steel trough. You can walk right up it and feel the cool evaporation. The water seeps out onto the pavement at its feet and somehow looks like something has overflown its boundaries.

Pacific Cove (30 photos) Google Maps link
This is a massive network of ponds, waterways, fountains, falls and water chutes surrounding the Pacific Cove residential buildings. Unless you go over the crest of a small hill you may never see it. I have gone past it 100's of times walking and cycling along the False Creek pathway and never had a clue it was there. Take a walk up and through it. It is fantastic.

Pallidio Prisoner Pond (4 photos) Google Maps link
This pool, located within the building's courtyard behind a high black iron fence, appears to be incarcerated. What offense could a pool give to have warranted such serious detention?

Pan Pacific Rim Map Pool (20 photos) Google Maps link
Thought provoking, this water sculpture is a stylized mercator like projection of the land masses edging the Pacific Ocean. Each country is supported over the water by metal rods, and brass labels identify each nation. The fountain and fallls located outside on the balcony overlooking Burrard Inlet are the headwaters for the map section, and the water flows under the glass wall, into the building.

Pan Pacific Water Wall (12 photos) Google Maps link
This large water wall is seen by nearly everyone going up the Pan Pacific's hotel lobby and is basically uninspired except in its monolithic presence. It is interactive as you can walk right up to it and put your hand to the wall and have the water fall over your hand. No doubt children and dogs find this water wall very amusing. Still there is something about it that gave me thoughts of algae and stagnance, even though it is perfectly clean.

Planetarium (24 photos) Google Maps link
As you approach the Vancouver Planetarium you won't be able to miss the huge metal crab sculpture dancing in the centre of a large white blue tinged pool. Stop to gaze at the crab as you enter over the pool's flyways which curve gracefully around either side of the crab to reach the doors. Water jets up into the sculpture from beneath, spraying out of through the majestic creature's carapace. After your stay at the planetarium is finished, dally at the pool's edge to contemplate the plantings and intriguing nooks and crannies stashed here and there.

PWC Fountain (4 photos) Google Maps link
This small pond and falls is tucked away along the Seymour Street side of the distinctive PWC building at the corner of Seymour and Hastings.

Reptilian Ripple (20 photos) Google Maps link
Reptilian is for the tightly packed geometric smooth coloured stone mosiac which covers the surface of the pool and the falls and made me think of reptile skin. Its really beautiful though it will probably take some contemplation before that becomes evident. This pond and falls has some interesting features. Closer to Beach Avenue is a large (1.5 meter diameter) black sphere which rests at the end of a stripe about 6 inches wide and 20 meters long which is surfaced by the reptile skin. If you stand beside the black sphere and look along the reptile skin line you can see it lines up with the notch in the pool through which the water spills down onto the falls. You will also notice that the water in this notch seems to blend into the water of False Creek. Nice optical illusion. When you stand on the waterfront path you can see the three levels of the reptile skinned falls glistening with the water spilling down onto it from the pond above. This is a very nice piece of work. I'd bet only a very few people have noticed the line, the black sphere and the notch water blending into the water of False Creek. Next time you are there, become one of them!

Rescan Riffle (9 photos) Google Maps link
In all likelihood, Rescan Environmental has absolutely nothing to do with this small, plain fountain except for the fact that it sits above a portion of the building where their sign is situated. So if there is a problem with it, don't go running to Rescan. The interesting thing about this fountain is that it is so plain and stuck on the outside terrace which juts out over the intersection. I suppose that almost no one goes to sit by it as there are not benches and the pools walls are quite low so it might be a bit awkward to sit on them. The most notable feature of this fountain is that standing beside it gets you a great view of the many glass towers which rise up around the park across the street, and if you turn North, you can see out over Burrard Inlet to the North Shore mountains but the new building being constructed will soon put an end to that view.

Rona House Fountains (9 photos) Google Maps link
Lots of variety at Rona in choice of fountains. Ok they aren't house fountains but they would make great garden or yard water art. Although they could be nice inside too!

Rusty Trough (11 photos) Google Maps link
I think the theme here is railway tracks. Rusted railway tracks are embedded in the walkway beside this awesome water art. This long rusted metal trough is entirely covered with thick rust and has nodules of rust in inside. So rustastic!

SFU Mother of Pearl (7 photos) Google Maps link
This is up on SFU campus and has a shimmery mother of pearl type interior surface. The design has water going right up to edges like an infinity pool.

SFU Reflecting Pond (13 photos) Google Maps link
Located in the Simon Fraser University's interior courtyard of the Academic Quadrangle is the SFU Reflecting Pond. Most times of the year is full of Koi fish and occasionally when temperatures drop below zero becomes the surface for ice hockey.

Shaw Tower Green Lantern (23 photos) Google Maps link
Shaw Tower, near Canada Place, has a very unsual water art installation. On the waterfront side of the building, a very fine mist of water is sprayed from a series of small vents on the building's side. This mist, which is so fine you can barely feel it, floats down over a large stainless steel collecting basin. The strip of lighting that ascends the entire height of the building's edge begins here, colouring the mist a green and blue hue. I have only seen the mist it in operation once even after passing by half a dozen times. The Shaw Tower also has more water art on the streetside business lobby entrance which has a small pool outside the foyer, and the residential tower lobby has a small black tile pool from which just coloured lighted rods of glass. This residential foyer has other pits which now contain sand and stones but at one time contained water like the remaining pool however it must have been troublesome to maintain. Turn on the mist Shaw!

Somber Orange Falls (4 photos) Google Maps link
This falls and fountains, on W Georgia St, belongs to a complex of residential buildings at Bute & W Georgia. The photos show the water spilling down the tiers into a street level pool ornated with small fountains. Out of sight, at the top of the falls is a courtyard in which a Japanese style rock pool with fountains resides. One day I will go back to collect photos of that too, as well as better daytime photos of the falls. Until then, enjoy these orangy, somber images, excepting the one steeply angled photo which shows the buildings rising up around the courtyard.

Stadium Station (23 photos) Google Maps link
I'd bet more than a few pairs of socks have been washed in this fountain by downtown east side residents.

Stone Bridge Pond (12 photos) Google Maps link
This mucky pond is located on the north west side of Georgia just at the entrance to Stanley Park near the civic marina and Vancouver Rowing Club. I've seen this water body choked with algae in the heat of summer when it stagnates. On the southeast end water flows over an edge of boulders from storm drainage or perhaps pumped water. At the northwest, water from this body passes under the stone foot and cycle bridge that carries pedestrians and cyclists into Stanley Park, before trickling onto the mud flats opposite the Rowing Club.

Stone Totem (11 photos) Google Maps link
These are awesome blocky Easter Island stone totems that seem to hide in plain site on the edge of busy Fairview on West Broadway. Stop and really take a good look next time you walk by. They might be your good luck totems!

Stone Trough (7 photos) Google Maps link
Simple and reassuring, this water installation likely escapes the attention of passersby although horses and cattle would find it in a second. Water spills from a raised, long narrow rectangular pool down a rough hewn stone face into a trough like channel which flows north into a drain before being pumped back up to begin its journey again. Last summer, in the heat of the day, I chanced to sit alongside this wall, and was amazed to feel it gave off a welcome cooling breath.

Stone Trough Part 2 (9 photos) Google Maps link
Well it's part 2 because it was built after part 1. Part 1 of course is Stone Trough separated from part 2 by wide expanse of concrete. Look at both and you'll agree, the architect wanted to continue the theme in part 2. But added new features like the awesome falls which weirdly seem hidden in plain site. I bet most people aren't aware of the pond at this water works apex.

Sway (19 photos) Google Maps link
This pond is part of a larger installation called Sway. It is nicely placed between two condo buildings and has a two bunches of tall thin copper coloured rods sticking out of the water. They look like tall thin candlesticks and even have lights on the tops that glow softly at night.

Telus Garden (17 photos) Google Maps link
Telus Garden is a 1,000,000 square foot office mixed-use tower sustainable office / residential development that has exploded into downtown Vancouver. The building has ground floor pools that are inside and outside the foyer on the West Georgia Street side. Inside it has lily pads and koi fish and seating that floats over and around the pool. Super nice!

The Discovery (10 photos) Google Maps link
This small geometrically precise falls and pond combination is located in the interior of the courtyard of the surrounding three tall residential towers. The waterfront walkway is not far away but this water installation is not visible from it. I just happened to hear the water sound and had to walk along a passageway to find it; so it was quite 'The Discovery'! It is nice though, tucked away, with its v-shaped angular presentation. It could almost do double-duty as a hot tub.

The Lagoons (48 photos) Google Maps link
Everybody who has gone to Granville Island and walked along the waterfront towards under the Granville Street bridge towards Vanier Park has seen The Lagoons. I am sure many have envied the lucky residents of the low-rise waterfront condos facing onto the lagoons and their view of False Creek, the marinas, Granville Island, and downtown Vancouver. Some of these condos at water level have small patios which open directly onto the lagoons like little private docks. These huge bodies of water have plenty of interesting features including weeping willow trees branches dipping into the water, rocks jutting out of the water, water lillies, marshy areas along the edges and smooth placid surfaces, and provide a place for ducks, geese and other waterfowl to loaf.

The Time Carriage (17 photos) Google Maps link
This fountain's wheels spin with running water. Its in motion but going nowhere fast. It has a plaque that celebrates BC's stagecoach route history, includes references to Albert Einstein and ends with question "will time travel become possible?" Well. Good thing there is a Brown's Social House next door. I need a beer to ponder time travelling carriages.

The Vet's Water Bowl (4 photos) Google Maps link
This little water fountain located on the side of a veterinarian's office looks like a nice little Japanese garden.

Thunder Chasm (36 photos) Google Maps link
This has been dubbed Thunder Chasm because when you stand by the chasm, you hear the thunderous roar of the water falling nearly 3 meters in a fury of white foamy menace. It is a miniature Victoria Falls. But that isn't the only feature of this water complex. The large semi-circular pool which drops into the chasm is very nice. Standing at its edge you can see the surrounding buildings and sky reflecting in its surface, and its bottom covered with large irregular granite rocks which makes you think of mountain streams. There is also the other semi-circular part that has a radial display of etched water channels in its finished concrete surface in which flow water from small fountains, and drain into the shallow semi-circular pool. One can walk over the etched water channels, which resemble little river deltas, and people and their dogs do walk in this area, the dogs drinking and the people stepping like giants over rivers. Finally, there is the cheery cluster of water fountains that dance in the center of the chasm, before crashing down into the chasm.

Thunderbird Slough (7 photos) Google Maps link
This is slough is part of park nestled between campus apartment buildings. Wooden walkways cross the slough and big cedars shelter overhead. Very peaceful.

Tidal Waves (11 photos) Google Maps link
Mosaic sea creatures frolic in their 2-dimensional tile world at the bottom of this North Vancouver Lonsdale Quay fountain. With strong winds, its rumoured the sails shift the fountain back and forth across the quay. For reals? I dunno.

Tide Tracker (10 photos) Google Maps link
This classical structure sits in the tidal zone of False Creek. Water is present within the structure with the tides wax and wane. The inscription on the inside reads: The Moon circles the Earth and the ocean responds with the rhythm of the tides.

UBC First Nations Library (13 photos) Google Maps link
Xwi7xwa Library that is what this place is called. Pretty cool little fountain in the subsurface well of this library. The entire complex has a lot of wood and first nations architectural style.

UBC Ladder Marsh (39 photos) Google Maps link
This is a descending series of levels each level has short falls dropping to the next. The watercourse is almost entirely planted with bull rushes and water plantings. It is only a forearm's depth. You might see a racoon foraging and washing up.

UBC Samurai Moat (31 photos) Google Maps link
Also known as the Asian Centre, this moat wraps around three sides of the building. Not much of a moat. The zombies will easily toddle across to slobber on the large glass windows. A slot in the moat gives a skylight to basement room. Two falls drain the moat on the unwrapped side.

UBC Signature Circle (14 photos) Google Maps link
I think this is officially called Martha Piper Circle. The fountains are not always on but when they aren't you get to see the glassy mirrored surface with infinity pool water right up to edges. The water spills out over the edges into surrounding catch basin. It has nice wooden ledge that makes great sitting in the summer.

Van Pelt's Fountain (17 photos) Google Maps link
Perfectly placed in front of the UBC main library the little plaque in front of this pond says its been here for 100 years. Unassuming. Nice stone work. This fountain is a TV actor with a central role in The Magicians Episode 3. A ghost likely named Charlie living in the fountain attempts drowning Brakebills students. Beware UBC students.

Vancouver Art Gallery (17 photos) Google Maps link
This is the Vancouver Art Gallery Centennial Fountain. The day time photos show show the fountain's beautiful and colourful broken tile mosaic lining the pool and the unique centerpiece sculpture which has an interesting history. In one of the night time photos you can see the art gallery's windows lit up in the background with fake lightening (it was around Halloween when the photo was taken). If you are also looking closely you should be able to see some of Vancouver's finest roust some young art lover's for imbibing malt beverages in public.

Vancouver Museum Contemplation (11 photos) Google Maps link
Sequestered in an inner courtyard, the Vancouver Museum has created a beautiful oasis sheltering native BC plants in a natural garden that contains a shallow pond. The garden can be viewed from all sides through the glass walls. Just in case you are wondering, the Vancouver Museum is in the same building as the Planetarium on Vanier Point.

Vancouver Sun Plaza Pools (12 photos) Google Maps link
In the plaza between the Vancouver Sun building and the Waterfront Skytrain station terminal building are two large circular pools with fountains. They are dry in these photos but their tiles are different shades of blue and with water must present a very happy face to watchers especially on a sunny day. One of the pools is actually quite large and has a cement bench on which the lunchtime crowd can sit.

Vanier Point Pond and Bridge (19 photos) Google Maps link
Vanier Point has a very large body of water that goes to the back of the Planetarium. The park's grass meets the water's edge with a few tufts of reeds and occassionally mucky shore. If you walk along the gravel path edging the point you may not see the water it is tucked behind some ridges in a depression hidden from view. Draining into it is a usually dry gulch which is bridged by a nice curved wooden bridge standing under the shelter of green boughs.

VCC-Clark Haiku Shower (12 photos) Google Maps link
I've seen this a 100 times before and it kinda sorta occurred to me it was meant for something special. I thought it was a fountain and they forgot to add water. It seemed to always have litter inside. Then recently I walked by on a rainy day and happened to look up and see the rain draining from a slot on the roof overhanging it. Then it clicked, duh, it is a fountain, of sorts, of kinds. So cool! It's not really a fountain just a haiku of a fountain!

Waffle Revue (6 photos) Google Maps link
This pool forms a kind of moat along the front of this waffle like building. A series of concrete bridges cross over the pool for each of the building's entrances. The pool contains staggered rows of small fountains which are brightly lit at night and give one the impression of Lilliputians dancing about the feet of a giant.

Wall Centre Tree Island (8 photos) Google Maps link
This is an island in the centre of the Wall Sheraton driveway. It is a huge circle topped with trees and padded with water ways. Nice way to arrive.

Wall Tower Fountains (21 photos) Google Maps link
These fountains are found in the large and varied landspace below the Wall Tower on Burrard Street. The main fountain is voluminous, splashy, square and loud and is spectacularly bathed in bright white light at night, alright! It is plunked down in the center of the pathway between Burrard Street and the Wall Tower main entrance so you can't miss it. The smaller fountains are found along the edge of the building's courtyard on Burrard Street. These small fountains fall into a long rectangular pool which has regularly spaced tree planters, and drains into a trough along Burrard Street. The water flows down the trough into a drain along coarse black flagstones. At night the entire courtyard has various coloured lights which are picked up by the fountains and ponds and creates a magical sparkling effect.

Waterfall Building (30 photos) Google Maps link
This building has a futuristic look about it and so makes its way into a bunch of movies and TV shows. I think most people know of the Waterfall Building. So aptly named. This fountain has a curtain of water falling from the ceiling of the building which arches over the entrance to the building's courtyard. The falling water resembles the flow from a lawn sprinkler, thin, linearly placed, evenly spaced streams of water fall directly down into the pool below, from which water spills on either side into collecting grates. The courtyard houses a glass building, an art gallery, which itself is bracketed by two small l-shaped, moat-like pools.

Waterfront Place Amphitheatre (4 photos) Google Maps link
This below street level cascade and pool can be seen from the food court just inside Waterfront Centre. The stepped funnel cascade can almost be called vortex; when staring into it one gets the sensation of a spirally vortex of water flowing down into the bottom. It is really quite a dramatic presenation, probably not often appreciated except by weary, hungry tourists as they gobble up their chinese or McDonalds inside the mall. The best vantage point though is looking down into the cascade from the street level.

Waterfront Place Spirals (7 photos) Google Maps link
This apparently interactive water installation has many unique features. The most prominent is its multiple levels, it resembles a tiered wedding cake, down which water cascades. The tiers sprial around and the water seems to be spinning from top to bottom. However, only a thin layer of water tcollects on each tier, at most only about 2cm so, as photos below illustrate, kids can climb on the fountain. Take care though, the surface could be slippery!

Waterhenge (10 photos) Google Maps link
The name of this one says it all, well not all, it is a bunch of decent sized boulders, not large carved stone blocks but they are arranged in a circle reminiscent of Stonehenge.

Westin Bayshore Hotel (16 photos) Google Maps link
The well known Westin Bayshore hotel is surrounded by water (and not just Burard Inlet). First there is the really fantastic tiered pools and cascades with concrete blocks placed so you can walk over the water stepping stone fashion located in the hotel's driveway. Then there is a large circular pool which has been planted to give it a natural appearance. Also, along the side and rear of the hotel is naturalized moat like pond with two short falls. A patio for a hotel restaurant juts out over the north end of this pond.

Wind Tree Falls (18 photos) Google Maps link
At first glance I was tempted to call the sculpture angel or eagle wings, but after only a moments consideration, it became clear that it is a wind swept coniferous tree, of the type that is so common on the west coast of Vancouver Island. These stunted, often very old trees considering their small size, are Nature's bonsai, no doubt the inspiration for the original Japanese bonsai masters, who also lived on the edge of the fierce Pacific Rim. The pond's stepped falls and small dancing fountains can't possibly mimic the Pacific Ocean, but are a decent perch for this wonderful sculpture of a wind swept tree to rest.

Yaletown Dog Bowl (2 photos) Google Maps link
Even doggies get thirsty when out for a walk so some thoughtful architect remembered to build them a fountain of their own. The water trickles into a dog's eye level height concrete bowl from which Rover can drink. I have seen lots of dogs drinking from this fountain so the architect can be assured his/her's kind gesture was not wasted.

YVR Green Totem Falls (15 photos) Google Maps link
This hidden gem skulks behind an escalator used by airport personnel. Floor to ceiling rock wall bisected by falling water into a quite large and deep tank. Its got great soothing water sound and hydrates the already humid West coast air that recharges those escalating by.

YVR Salmon Run (32 photos) Google Maps link
As a former environmental scientist who has done a lot of salmon habitat related work around the Vancouver Lower Mainland I can tell you this is the real deal imitation stream. Crikey mate. Its huge. Its involved. It has beautiful frosted glass salmon sculptures swimming upstream. Surrounded by quiet and cosy seating nooks you might feel you have been transported to BC's wilderness. At one end is a fountain with a nice statue and at the other is a massive aquarium with real BC coastal fish. Just wow! Right now I am standing up and slow clapping.